"combat"

[Gunnyhiway]

I loved "COMBAT" back in the 1960s and watched every episode.
I had a toy Thompson I received as a Christmas gift and then I raided Dads footlocker in the utility room. I was the best dressed kid on the block when we fought the krauts or japs. I had a real USMC helmet and cover, pistol belt, gas mask bag, canteen and a musette bag. I always put them away before I was caught. My dad eventully caught me but did give them to me but always said to "take care of them" and "put them back where I found them". I wanted to be Sgt. Saunders when I grew up.
The time I grew up in and my dad serving in WWII and Korea and teaching me to shoot, respect firarms and to be proud to be an American were the stepping stones that influenced me to enlist and my lifelong interest in militaria and firearms.

I went thru the Garand collecting now it's M14s ( M1As) and ARs. The Holy Grail to me is a BAR or a Thompson SMG. I have shot both full auto as a club member has them and other FA weapons.

I love the Tommy gun BUT I found I liked the BAR a bit more. Too bad I'll never have the money to own either.

Vic Morrow and the others from the show that are gone............

RIP !

[DaveN]

thankx for all the great replies, I enjoyed all the comments. ? I have
seen BAR's at shows (semi only) and I know they r replicas but look cool.
can you get a BAR (shooter/replica) or are they as rare as I think? any
info would be appreciated.

[Gunnyhiway]

BARs and Thompsons are available in semi form. The Tommys with the short barrel ( you need a special tax stamp like a full auto one).
Ohio Ordinance use to make the BARs from USGI parts except the receiver. They go for about $2500.00 last I saw. The SBR Tommys are about $1300.00 a few years ago plus the $200 tax stamp for the short barrel. Looks like Sgt. Saunders gun with the Cutts comp or get one with just the front sight like Captain Miller in Pvt.Ryan.

[Bill Hollinger]

Hey, but Victor and Jack are in Brazil on a mission! He He He

Okay, sorry, Combat, one of the best shows that I can remember growing up as a kid.

[emmagee1917]

Bars---3,500 with plastic stock....3,800 with wood buttstock

Bar semi kits to complete your parts kit...2,000.

Top notch guns from a top notch company. They are about a year behind on backorders.


Thompsons are avail. from Khar Arms. Quality not so good , but can be made to work. Do your research and you can pick the ones that WILL have problems out and don't buy them. When tuned and fixed they run as good as any out there.

Chris

[TDH]

Don't forget Caje and his BAR. "Combat" was one of my favorite shows from the 60s.. I liked "The Outer Limits" too.

40 DVDs are going to keep you glued to the TV for quite a while, Dave. :-0

That was Kirby and his BAR. Cage was left handed and had an M1

[TDH]

Caje was also an olympic skier for France. Saunders (Vic Morrow) had a wooden Thompson made because he felt the real one was too heavy. Billy was shown in several episodes after he was killed off. And Rick Jason (Hanley) never put his carbine to his shoulder. He always fired from the hip.

Alot of footage was captured German footage and alot of battle scenes were recycled over and over.

One more note in the first season Shecky Green wore USMC camo pants.

One last note Ted Knight was actually a pretty decent actor before Ted Baxter if his several Combat appearences were any indication.

[Tom Doniphon]

That was Kirby and his BAR. Cage was left handed and had an M1

I stand corrected. Thank you TDH.

[DaveN]

can anyone tell me about the shovels that they have on their back. t-handles and no folding. i have a folding 1943 entrenching tool. are theirs pre 1943?
I know someone is going to tell me they are made of balso wood or peanut brittle so during filming they could eat it if the got hungry. just kidding. all the stories have been fun to hear.

[EdG]

“Combat” came on ABC and my area only had CBS and NBC affiliates. However, thanks to such sparse programming in the ‘60’s our local station carried the series as a filler when I was in eighth grade. Really enjoyed it.
My Junior High and Senior High phys. ed. coach auditioned and, the story was, almost landed the Rick Jason role of Lt. Hanley. He later did do some local TV work but never hit the big time.
When my son was little (he’s now 28) in the ‘80’s, reruns of “Combat” were aired. When the opening credits and theme song came on he would call out to me, “Daddy, the marching guns are on”, and he and I would sit and enjoy the action. I had begun seriously pursuing the M1 Garand when my son was three so he recognized that firearm.